I was on the fence, but I'll be at the road enduro with 3-4 others. We northeasterners have to leave at 7AM, so the middle of the state crew shouldn't complain.

Is there by chance a GPS of the route available? I have another person who wants to go, but will not be able to get there until just before noon. If nothing else, if you could tell me, or PM me the lunch location, I can have him meet us there.

I mainly lurk here, I live in Butler Township. Cannot claim to being very adventurous yet, but did just trade for a KLR250 that was supposed to be a cheap ride to try some dirt on but has become a farkle magnet. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>Ricochet plate, Pelican box and Double Take mirror have been added since this picture was taken right after I painted it with Duraliner with a brush. Handguards are in the mail and then I am done screwing with it.<o></o>

I ventured out this morning leaving Ketteirng and headed towards Graits / Farmersville. My goal was to find Anthony Rd. / Lower Gratis Rd. in search of my first contact with dirt / gravel / "off-road" riding. I found Anthony Rd. and its one lane bridge. Due to the fact that it rained all day Saturday this gravel / dirt road was more of a mud road! I went through this @ 10 mph, this was the first time I have experienced less than ideal traction. The street tires on my F650 are not ideal for this terrain but I went slow and it was fun. It was a great experience and I now want to throw dual sport rubber on my ST, or invest in a KLR or TW......for Montgomery County this road is "adventurous"

I ventured out this morning leaving Ketteirng and headed towards Graits / Farmersville. My goal was to find Anthony Rd. / Lower Gratis Rd. in search of my first contact with dirt / gravel / "off-road" riding. I found Anthony Rd. and its one lane bridge. Due to the fact that it rained all day Saturday this gravel / dirt road was more of a mud road! I went through this @ 10 mph, this was the first time I have experienced less than ideal traction. The street tires on my F650 are not ideal for this terrain but I went slow and it was fun. It was a great experience and I now want to throw dual sport rubber on my ST, or invest in a KLR or TW......for Montgomery County this road is "adventurous"

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Glad you were able to find it. That creek is rideable when the water is down and there are some sandy area's between the road and creek that are fun. -Mike

Glad you were able to find it. That creek is rideable when the water is down and there are some sandy area's between the road and creek that are fun. -Mike

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Mike, thanks again. This road was exactly what I was looking for. I wish we had more roads around like this one. Problem is I will have to find a solution to dual sport tires. The F650ST I have is straight street vs. the F650 (Fundoro) which has a 19" front and there are endless dual sport / dirt tires. Anyone know what I can do? Rears are easy to find but my Front 100/90X18 I have not found a single (front) dual sport in that size. There are a few (rears) that are that side, but then I can't find a matching pair for the front and rear which is 130/80X17.

I went on the first part of the enduro today, did the first three check points, and was on very familiar roads, so I cut out. I had not done an enduro, but it was like a Tulip rally, (which I have done many times,) except in a Tulip you have a navigator and all you have to do is pay attention and drive. If I do it again, I would want a better way to hold the route instructions, and I would want a timer I could see and reset. I got tired of always having to look down and find the instructions.

Problem is I will have to find a solution to dual sport tires. Rears are easy to find but my Front 100/90X18 I have not found a single (front) dual sport in that size. There are a few (rears) that are that side, but then I can't find a matching pair for the front and rear which is 130/80X17.

I went on the first part of the enduro today, did the first three check points, and was on very familiar roads, so I cut out. I had not done an enduro, but it was like a Tulip rally, (which I have done many times,) except in a Tulip you have a navigator and all you have to do is pay attention and drive. If I do it again, I would want a better way to hold the route instructions, and I would want a timer I could see and reset. I got tired of always having to look down and find the instructions.

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Last year when I did it there were enough people I just followed others on my time. Sorry you had a bad ride, but I bet it beat push mowing and pounding on a KLR 650 bolt.

Mike, thanks again. This road was exactly what I was looking for. I wish we had more roads around like this one. Problem is I will have to find a solution to dual sport tires. The F650ST I have is straight street vs. the F650 (Fundoro) which has a 19" front and there are endless dual sport / dirt tires. Anyone know what I can do? Rears are easy to find but my Front 100/90X18 I have not found a single (front) dual sport in that size. There are a few (rears) that are that side, but then I can't find a matching pair for the front and rear which is 130/80X17.

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How knobby do you want to get?

A decent dual sport tire that a lot of guys use on terrain like what you pictured is the Shinko 705.

This one is an 18, may fit (I'm not good at tire sizing and I never understood why sometimes they just forgo the common sizes and use a inch measurement of the rim width):

Managed to get my new bars, grips, clutch lever, and handguards on this evening. I still need to figure out how to repair my left broken mirror mount. The boss is snapped off at the control housing....anyone have a spare generic mirror bar mount sitting around? the mirror is fine still.

I went with a ATV bar, the height is within a hair of the stock KLR bars (tall) and the bend is just a slightly straighter, I really like the feel over the stock bars.

Thanks to you and the other Ohio Woods Riders and Rushing Wind for putting on the road enduro. It was a first class production, good time and beautiful day. Also thanks also to Bob Ramsey for giving me crash coarse on keeping time. I actually think I was getting the hang by the end of it.

The street tires on my F650 are not ideal for this terrain but I went slow and it was fun. It was a great experience and I now want to throw dual sport rubber on my ST, or invest in a KLR or TW......for Montgomery County this road is "adventurous"

For dirt roads, before you commit $$ to new tires, try dropping 10-20% off of recommended tire psi. (we're not talking mud hole trail blazing)

The stock tires, IMHO, do pretty well on a gravel road, with lower psi

If I'm doing mostly dirt/gravel, I may go down to 25-30 psi. It will help the skittering feel some if your near 36 psi.

But note, when you get back on the pavement, you're under-inflated for 80-100mph.

So, pay attention to your tires and tire pressure.

Trade for KLR (?) Be careful what you wish for - the F650 is a great bike. (as is the KLR . . .) but you already own the F650.